R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

AMRITSAR
BLOOD CAMP: The Rotary Club of Amritsar Cantonment, in collaboration with the State Bank of India, East Mohan Nagar branch, organised a blood donation camp here on Monday. The Branch Manager, Mr Rajan Trikha, in a press note issued here said more than 60 persons donated blood for the blood bank of the Indian Red Cross Society.

EMPLOYEES’ STRIKE: The members of the Private Colleges Non-Teaching Employees Union of Punjab and Chandigarh have been on strike for the past one week, the secretary of the association, Mr Devinder Sharma, said here on Monday. They have been protesting against the non-acceptance of their legitimate demands.

PROTEST ENDS: The CPM ended its 29-day-old protest on Monday, stated Mr Tarsem Singh Bhola. He said the Municipal Corporation had assured them that the development project (work) in slum areas of the city would be started soon.

LETTER TO DGP: The President of the Amritsar Vikas Manch, Prof Mohan Singh, in a letter to the DGP highlighted the increasing incidents of chain snatching, thefts, daylight burglaries and other crimes in the city. He said the SHOs were put on VIP-security duty as a result of which the security of the area gets ignored. The Manch president suggested setting up of a special VIP-security cell.

CHILDREN’S DAY: Sri Guru Harkrishan School here celebrated Children’s Day on Monday. Music, songs, dances, drills, P.T. show, English action song, aerobics demonstration, hoop drill, taekwando demonstration, Rajasthani and Punjabi folk songs marked the occasion.

CELEBRATIONS LIVE: The ETC Punjabi channel will telecast live the bicentenary celebrations of Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s coronation from here, stated Ms Rajiee M. Shinde, Head of Programming of the channel. She said six cameras had been installed to telecast the event.

EXHIBITION: A photographic exhibition will be organised from November 15 to 17 at the Thakur Singh Art Gallery here. Mr Balwinder Singh, head of Guru Ramdas School of Planning, Guru Nanak Dev University, will display photographs on “Contributions of Maharaja Ranjit Singh to the heritage of Punjab”. The exhibition will be inaugurated by Mr Tarlochan Singh, Vice-Chairman, National Commission for Minorities. The exhibition is being organised by the Indian Academy of Fine Arts.

CHRISTIANS PROTEST: The All-India Christian Dalit Front will hold a protest rally on November 16 at Wagha border here against the recent massacre of Christians in Pakistan, stated Mr Jaspal Masih, press secretary of the front.

FARIDKOT
DENIED: Mr Surinder Iqbal Singh Brar, President, District Congress Committee (DCC), has categorically denied the press reports about issuing of a show-cause notice to him by Capt Amarinder Singh, President, PPCC. Mr Brar clarified on Tuesday that he was a sincere party worker and had always worked for the unity and uplift of the party.

GURDASPUR
DROWNED: A migrant labourer reportedly drowned when a boat carrying him capsized in the Ghareta river on Sunday. The body has not been recovered so far, but the rescue operations are on.

LUDHIANA
FUNCTION: The certificate distribution function of free sewing course of Prerna Kendra International Social and Charity Organisation was held here on Monday. The next sewing course was inaugurated by Mr Satpal Gossain, Deputy Speaker, Vidhan Sabha, Punjab. Mr Lajpat Rai, Mr Sohan Singh and Mr Jwala Singh were the guests of honour on the occasion. The programme started with the shabad gayan by Ranbir Kaur. Cultural programme was also presented by the students of Prerna Kendra. The annual report of the kendra was read by general secretary of the kendra secretary Satbir Singh. He also discussed about various courses being run by the organisation. “We are also planning to start several new projects for the needy students so that they can become financially independent”, he said. A grant of Rs 5,000 was presented to the kendra by the distinguished guests.

APPOINTED: Mr Sanjiv Sethi, president of the Rotary Club, Ludhiana, has been appointed as Assistant Governor for the Rotary Year 2002-2003. Mr K.K.Chadda, Secretary, Rotary Club, in a press statement on Tuesday said this was the newly created post by the Rotary International. According to the Council of Legislation, the Assistant Governor is required to assist the Rotary District Governor in the working and functioning of the clubs in the district. Mr Sethi has also been assigned the duties of financial management and community welfare projects in Doraha, Khanna, Jagraon, Raikot and all Rotary Clubs located in the city.

SILVER JUBILEE CELEBRATIONS: Guru Nanak Public School on the completion of 25 glorious years celebrated its silver jubilee and prize distribution function here yesterday. According to a press release, Mr Sudhakar Varma, Chief Commissioner Income Tax, Ludhiana and Jalandhar, was the chief guest and gave away the prizes to the winners of academic and cocurricular activities. Ms K.Virdi, Principal of the school, Mr Jagat Singh founder secretary, Giani Bhagat Singh — President of the school, Mr Apinder Singh Grewal, Mayor, Ludhiana Municipal Corporation, were also present on the occasion. The programme started with shabad gayan. The students presented welcome dance, classical dance and vandana. The students of primary section presented Romeo Juliet. Children also presented kalbelia (a Rajasthani folk dance). Several other items like Sassi-Punnu, Mirza-Sahiba and Heer-Ranjha were also presented on the occasion.

MACHHIWARA
MEETING: Subdivisional delegate meeting of the CPI (M) was held under the presidentship of veteran communists — Mr Sarvan Singh Udhowal, Mr Dalvara Singh Bondli, Mr Som Singh Machhiwara, Mr Devdass Samrala and Mr Satosh and Mr Singh Swaich. The meeting was inaugurated by Mr Raghuvir Singh Benipal. In his brief address, he flayed CPI (M) stalwart Mr Balwant and Mr Surjit for deforming party and bearing wrong policy matters. These leaders have violated party’s and programme launched in 1964, he alleged. Addressing the meeting, Mr Amarnath Koomkalan, state vice-president of (CITU (Punjab), and state general secretary of the FCI Workers’ Union, said the communist movement was not a one man’s property. It represents labourers and general public, he added. Mr Om Parkash, secretary, Samrala subdivision represented a report on the working party’s three years. Mr Om Parkash elected unanimously as the secretary of the unit for the next three years.

CRICKET TOURNEY: A four-day cricket tournament will be organised by Sherpur Cricket Club, Sherpur Bet from November 16. Talking to Ludhiana Tribune , the president of the club, Mr Satish Kumar, told that on the first day of the meet cards playing contest will also be held in the evening. On the concluding day, a bonanza of cultural programme will be presented in which renowned singers Baljinder Garcha and Simranjit Kaur would entertain the audience.

MANDI GOBINDGARH
PUNJABI LAKHARI SABHA: A meeting of the Lakhari Sabha chaired by President Amir Dhawan in municipal council’s reading room was held on Tuesday. Mr Harpreet Singh ‘Naaj’ secretary of the sabha, presented the life history of Mr Jassa Singh Ramgarhia through portraits. Mr Bhim Sain Modgil from Patiala presented “Veerey Nu Kra Ti Digri- Menu Panjvi Na Pas Karai” Jagjit Singh Guram from Ludhiana recited a poem on Divali, Mr Ishar Singh Parsi read his article on a poet, Jagjeet Singh Chaman. Mr Charanjit Singh Bajwa, a young writer read his poem, “Jawan.”

MANSA
BAIL DENIED: The anticipatory bail application of Santosh Joga, BJP Councillor, was dismissed by Mr Sukhdev Singh, Additional District and Sessions Judge, here on Monday. The police had registered a case under Sections 420, 467, 468, 471 and 120-B of the IPC against her and another SAD (B) Councillor, Harpal Singh Pali, who has been arrested and sent in judicial custody.

VEHICLE RECOVERED: The Boha police has recovered a Canter which was forcibly taken away from Mr Sulwant Singh of Ghumanpur village, stated Mr Dilbagh Singh Gill, SSP, in a press note. He said the accused had snatched the Canter which was loaded with 35 bags of paddy.

NOMINATED: Mr Ashwani Kumar Sachdeva of Rotary Club, Sriganganagar, was nominated official candidate for the office of the Rotary International Governor-3090, stated Mr R.C. Goyal, president of the Host Club, here on Tuesday. He said the decision was taken unanimously by the nominating committee.

PATIALA
SPECTACULAR SHOW BY KIDS: ‘The Emperor’s New Clothes’, ‘Sabjiaon ki ladai’ and good old Giddha were presented at the annual day function of the Kaintal Junior School. The programme held on Monday started with a Bharatnatyam performance and a special programme titled “The Kaintal School Circus” in which students dressed up as parrots on cycles including a joker, had everyone in splits. The chief guest on the occasion was Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) Finance Member Anirudh Tewari. The principal Ms Neena Dhunia assured parents that the school would be upgraded to matric level.

TELEVISION: The Patiala chapter of the Red Cross presented a television set to deaf and dumb participants who had made candles for exhibition. The Deputy Commissioner, Mr Jasbir Singh Bir, presented the TV set.

SAMRALA
TELEPHONE BILL: The Panchayat of Ladhran village, 3 km from here have received a telephone bill of Rs 231 on account of the village gurdwara on Tuesday, according to Mr S.S. Guron, a resident of the village. Mr Guron told the Ludhiana Tribune that neither the panchayat nor the Gurdwara Parbhandhak Committee had ever applied for the telephone connection in the Gurdwara Sahib.

HARYANA

AMBALA
SCHOOL FUNCTION: A cultural function was held as part of the annual day celebrations of Shivalik Hills Public School, Ambala City. The MLA Naggal, Mr Jasbir Mallour, was the chief guest at the function presided over by the school chairman, Mr Anil Sachdeva. Tiny tots presented boogie woogie dance and nursery students danced enthusiastically to the ‘Brazil’ dance number. The western dance, Giddha and solo dance performances were highly appreciated. Students undergoing karate training displayed their technicians by breaking tiles.

UNDERTRIAL ESCAPES: An undertrial escaped after drugging two policemen who had accompanied him to a court. The incident came to light when the two policemen were found in an unconscious state in a bus near Agrasain Chowk in Ambala City. The two policemen had taken an undertrial, Surjit alias Bittoo, who was lodged in the Ambala Central Jail, to Jind in a certain court case. They were on return journey when the incident took place. Both the policemen were referred to the PGI, Chandigarh. A case has been registered.

DHARNA ENDS: The Congress dharna which was being held in front of the office of Superintendent of Police, Ambala, ended on Tuesday. Among others, former Haryana revenue minister, Mr Nirmal Singh, the district Congress president, Mr Balwant Gupta, the vice-president of the Haryana Youth Congress, Mr Brahmpal Rana, and general secretary of the Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee. Ms Kiran Bala Jain, were present on the occasion. Ms Jain while criticising the Chautala government said the government had lodged a false case against Mr Nirmal Singh and other Congress activists.

HIMACHAL PRADESH

KANGRA
BURNT ALIVE: An unidentified person and two head of cattle were burnt alive on Sunday night in Sukkar village, the police said on Monday. The fire broke out in a cow-shed, the police added.

13 GAMBLERS HELD: The Kangra police arrested 13 persons for gambling following raids at Donga Bazar and Kholi areas on Sunday. The district police chief, Mr Sanjay Kundu, said the raids were conducted on a tip-off and Rs 29,591 were seized from them. The raids were conducted at the shops of Kushal Kumar, Vijay Kumar and Joginder Singh and three cases were registered under the Gambling Act. He said the police seized 1.4 kg of charas from Raj Kumar, alias Bachitar, of Manhuta in Chamba on Sunday. He was arrested under the NDPS Act.

PALAMPUR
CONVOCATION: The agricultural university here will hold its 10th convocation on November 28, stated Mr Sunil Chaudhry, Registrar of the university, on Tuesday. He said Mr Ajit Singh, Union Agriculture Minister, would be the chief guest, while Mr Suraj Bhan, Governor and Chancellor of the university, would preside over the function. Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, Chief Minister, will also grace the occasion, he added.